Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 2, Part 24

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1044


USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 2 > Part 24


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98


by occupation, and an early settler of Poinsett County, Ark. He was a sheriff of this county for many years, and was one of the most energetic and enterprising men of the county. He engaged in merchandising in Harrisburg, in 1861, and later became a soldier in the Confederate army, dying in 1862, in Cross County. His wife survived him some years, her death taking place in 1872.


W. A. Smith has been a resident of Poinsett County, Ark., all his life, and his example of in- dustry, and earnest and sincere endeavors to suc ceed in life, especially in the occupation of farm- ing, are well worth imitation. He was born in 1860, and of his parents' five children he is the second. In boyhood, he attended the district schools near his home, and finished his education in Harrisburg, under the tutelage of Prof. J. P. Leake. He was taught the rudiments of farm work by his father, who was a successful agriculturist, and after leaving school, he engaged in this busi- ness, and was married in Poinsett County, in 1884, to Miss Mary Etta Wright, a native of Greenfield Township, and a daughter of J. L. and Jane (Ish- mael) Wright, who were early pioneers of Poinsett County. Mr. Smith first bought a forty acre tim- ber tract, but now has some thirty-two acres under cultivation, on which are good buildings, fences and orchards. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, while his wife belonged to the Christian Church. She died quite recently, having borne two children: Charles O. and an infant. Being a native of the county, Mr. Smith has naturally taken a deep inter- est in its welfare, and is an active and public-spir- ited citizen. His parents, William C. and Margaret (Ainsworth) Smith, were born in Poinsett County, and in 1853, the father began opening up a farm in Bolivar Township, and here his widow is resid- ing at the present time. His death occurred on the 16th of November, 1876, having been an enter- prising resident and an active member of the Dem- ocratic party all his life. William Smith, the pa- ternal grandfather, was an early pioneer of this section in 1832, and was one of the prominent ag- riculturists of Bolivar Township. He was county treasurer for a number of years.


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


L. E. Stancell, deputy sheriff of Poinsett County, Ark., was born in Northampton County, N. C., in 1847, being the fourth of seven children born to William E. and Caroline E. (Long) Stan- cell, their births having occurred in North Caro- lina and Virginia, respectively. The father was a planter and merchant, and in 1854 came to Arkan- sas, and settled near the present town of Harris- burg, where he entered a timber tract, which he commenced improving, but only lived to conduct the work for two years, his death occurring in the month of October, 1856. His wife survived him until 1869, when she, too, was called to her long home. After the death of his father, L. E. Stan- cell took the management of the home farm on his own shoulders, and although he was compelled to work hard, he managed to acquire a fair English education, in the district schools of the county. In January, 1869, he was married to Miss Lura A. Malone, who was born in Tennessee, and died in 1870, and, after remaining a widower until 1881, Mr. Stancell wedded Miss Mittie O. Mitchell, also of Tennessee, and a daughter of M. A. Mitchell and wife, nee Hindman, natives of Tennessee, who came to Poinsett County, Ark., in 1856. The mother died in 1879, but the father is still living, and resides with Mr. Stancell. From 1872 to 1880 Mr. Stancell was engaged in the grocery business, but at the latter date sold out, and has since given his attention to farming, but from 1888 to January, 1889, also conducted a grocery. This business he then gave up to assume the duties of sheriff. Socially, he is a member of Poinsett Lodge No. 184, of the A. F. & A. M., and of White Hall Lodge No. 77, of the I. O. O. F. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and - are the parents of two children: Lola Elizabeth and Lela G. Mr. Stancell is a supporter of Dem- ocratic principles, and has held the office of justice of the peace for six years. In 1864 Mr. Stancell enlisted in Capt. W. G. Godfrey's company, and was afterward with Price on his raid through Mis- souri, but surrendered in May, 1865, and returned to Poinsett County, where, as stated above, he has since made his home.


Thomas B. Steele, attorney, Harrisburg, Ark.


Of the many prominent names that make up the strength of the Arkansas bar is that of Thomas B. Steele, who is a true type of the progressive, yet conservative, and cultured Arkansas man. He was born at Batesville, Independence County, Ark .. on the 18th of April, 1855, and is one of seven children born to Rev. John M. and Narcissa (Brookfield) Steele, and grandson of Rev. Isaac Brookfield, who was originally from New Jersey, and was one of the pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He, with Rev. John M. Steele, was the founder of a great many churches of that denomination on Crowley's Ridge, their territory extending from Chalk Bluff to Helena. Rev. John M. Steele was born in Hardeman County, N. C., on the 2d of March, 1810, and remained in his native State until 1836. when he moved to Arkansas, where, for a number of years, he spent his time as an itinerant preacher. He was without a permanent home until about : 1843, when he took for his second wife Miss Nar- cissa Brookfield, a history of whose parents ap- pears in the church history of the counties trav- ersed by Crowley's Ridge. The seven children born to Rev. John M. Steele and wife are as fol- : lows: Mrs. Nancy J. Harris, residing in Bolivar Township; Rev. J. R., an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Texas; Mrs. Mary E. Dudley, who died in 1874, leaving three children; Mrs. S. Ann Keck, in Bolivar Township; Mrs. Martha C. Bettis; Thomas B. and James M., Jr., physician and surgeon at Weiner, Ark. Thomas B. Steele began in early life to assist on the farm and to at- tend the schools of Poinsett County. He attended the high school at Harrisburg, and finished in Arkansas College, at Batesville, in 1875. After this he began the study of Blackstone, under the tutelage of J. C. Brookfield, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and licensed to practice in the circuit and all inferior courts of the State. He at once located at Harrisburg, and has since been success- fully devoting himself to the practice of his pro- fession. On the 18th of September. 1887. he abandoned his single state, and was united in mar- riage to Miss Dora E. Guyer, a daughter of B. Y. and Mary A. (Bomar) Guyer, natives of New York


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POINSETT COUNTY.


and Tennessee, and of English and French descent, respectively. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Steele occurred in the Lone Star State, where her parents were living at that time. One child has been born to this union -Archie W., whose birth occurred on the 31st of August, 1888. Mr. Steele is the owner of about four acres in the oldest part of Harrisburg, and one business block on Main Street. In addition to this, he is the owner of 400 acres of timber land in Poinsett and Craighead Counties, with about fifteen acres under cultiva- tion. He votes with the Democratic party, and is quite active in politics, having made the canvass for representative in 1883, but was defeated by L. J. Collins. He takes a prominent part in all matters relating to education or for the public good.


Dr. James M. Steele, physician and surgeon, Weiner, Ark. Dr. Steele is a son of the well- known pioneer, Rev. John M. Steele, and is the youngest in a family of seven children. He was born in Batesville, Independence County, Ark., on the 25th of February, 1861, and his brothers and sisters are named as follows: Mrs. Jane Harris, wife of W. C. Harris, a farmer near Harrisburg; John R., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Meridian, Tex .; Mrs. Mary Dudley, wife of N. P. Dudley, and who died in June, 1876; Mrs. Ann Keck, wife of T. W. Keck, a farmer, living in Poinsett County; Mrs. Kate Battis, wife of J. W. Battis, a farmer near Harris- burg, and Thomas B. Steele, an attorney and counselor at law, at Harrisburg. Dr. James M. Steele's parents, Rev. J. M. and Narcissa (Brook- field) Steele, were among the earliest settlers of Crowley's Ridge. The father was born near Raleigh, N. C., in 1810, and received his educa- tion in that State and in Tennessee, having re- moved with his father to that State in 1824. He began life as a millwright, and in 1829 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Seit, a native of Tennessee. Two children were the fruits of this union: A. C., a farmer, who died from injuries re- ceived in the war, in 1865, leaving a wife and two children, and William M., who died in 1881, leav- ing a family of five children. Rev. Steele lost his wife in Saline County, Ark., in 1832. He had


moved there in 1830, and a short time after his wife's death was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He immediately entered the ministry of the Arkansas Methodist Episcopal Conference, and began his notable life- work. His labors for the first four or five years were in Northwest and Southwest Arkansas, and after that time on Crowley's Ridge, in St. Fran- cis County. He was there married, in 1848, to Miss Narcissa Brookfield, daughter of Rev. Isaac and Nancy Brookfield, and the same year he was sent by the conference to the Indian Territory, where he remained four years. He then returned to Batesville, Ark., and after this time his field was Crowley's Ridge, from Chalk Bluff to Helena and the Black River country. After starting over fifty churches, this devout and truly Christian man closed his eyes to the scenes of this world in 1881. Dr. James M. Steele attended the schools of Harrisburg, then Washington high school, in Independence County, and also attended one term at Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn. He began the study of medicine in 1876, under Dr. Beecher, and then spent several seasons as a drug clerk. In 1884 and 1885 he took a medical course in Memphis Hospital College, and in the last men- tioned year began practicing at Weiner, Poinsett County, Ark., where he has built up a large and paying practice. He was married, on the 14th of March, 1886, to Miss Emma E. Mayer, daughter of Michael and Mary (Klaege) Mayer, natives of Germany. To the Doctor and wife was born one child, Austin G., now a bright boy of six months. They lost one child, Edgar M., at the age of three months. Dr. Steele owns eighty acres of land. twenty acres under cultivation, and in connection with his practice is engaged in farming and stock raising. He votes with the Democratic party. but is conservative. He is a member of the school board, and one of the leading men of the county. Mrs. Steele is a member of the Catholic Church. T. A. Stone, a general merchant of Harris- burg, Ark., carries a full line of hats, caps, cloth- ing, boots and shoes, groceries, etc., and although he has only been established in business here since November, 1883, he has built up a paying patron-


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


age. He is a native-born resident of the county, his birth occurring in 1846, and he is the second of a family of seven children born to Robert H. and Emily (Shaver) Stone, the former a native of Sumner County, Tenn., and the latter of Phillips (now Poinsett) County, Ark. Robert H. Stone came to the State of Arkansas when a young man of eight- een years (in 1839), and was the fourth county clerk, elected in 1846, holding the position nearly four- teen years. He was also sheriff of the county in 1845-46, and at the time of his death, in 1859, he was filling the position of county clerk. His es- timable wife survived him until 1870, when she, too, passed to her long home. T. A. Stone was reared to farm life, and received a fair education in the schools of his native county. He was mar- ried here in 1868, to Miss Mary Frances Goodwin, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Peterson and Mary (Burt) Goodwin, also of that State, who came to Arkansas in the year 1856, both being now residents of the county. After his marriage Mr. Stone purchased a farm of 120 acres in Scott Township, it being partly improved at the time, and now has about fifty acres under cultivation. He has taken quite an active part in the political affairs of the county, and always votes with the Democratic party, and was elected on that ticket in 1886, to the office of county clerk, his term ex- piring in 1888. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Of an interesting family of four children born to them, two are now living: Albert Sidney and Minnie Lura.


Samuel G. Stone, general merchant, Bay Vil- lage, Ark. In including, in this work, the sketches of prominent business men of Poinsett County, none are more deserving of recognition than that of Samuel G. Stone, who for a number of years has carried on an extensive mercantile establishment at Bay Village. He was born near Harrisburg, Ark., December 23, 1859, and is the son of S. D. Stone, a native of Middle Tennessee, and a successful agriculturist. He was married in his native State, to Mrs. Matilda (Hall) Wilson, also a native of Middle Tennessee, and they soon afterward moved to Arkansas, and settled in Poin-


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sett County, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Stone had been married twice before; first, to William Stanford, by whom she had two children, Thomas and Lucinda, and then wedded Berry Fentrel, by whom she had one child, Richmond Fentrel. To her marriage with Samuel D. Stone were born two children: Robert A., a farmer, married, and residing near Harris- burg, and Samuel G., the subject of this sketch. The latter, like the ordinary country boy, received his education in the common schools, and started out in the world for himself at the age of eighteen. He began first by hauling logs and lumbering, which he continued for some time, and then was for a short time engaged in tilling the soil. In 1882, he met and married Miss Ida L. Goodwin, daughter of Peterson and Mary A. (Bert) Good- win, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, re- spectively. Mr. Goodwin is one of the sturdy sons of toil, and is now residing in Poinsett County, Ark. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone were born the fol- lowing children: William (died at the age of three months); Lulu M., Mary Belle and Ollie P. In 1884, Mr. Stone was elected constable, which posi- tion he held until 1886, when he was re-elected, and was also made marshal and deputy sheriff at the same time. In November, 1887, he engaged in mer- chandising at Bay Village, which he continued alone until February 1, 1888, when J. H. Van- diver bought an interest in the business, and they continued together until January 1, 1889. Mr. Stone then bought Mr. Vandiver out, and is now engaged alone in the business. He carries a gen- eral stock of goods, does a good business, and is in a prosperous condition. Aside from his store. he is the owner of 320 acres of land, and has one farm of 120 acres, well improved, and fifty-five acres under cultivation. This farm lies three miles east of Harrisburg, and another farm of eighty acres lies four miles east of Harrisburg, the latter all woodland. Another tract of timber land, 160 acres in all, lies six miles east of Harrisburg, and another eighty-acre tract lies on the Bottom Belt road. In addition to this, Mr. Stone is the owner of six lots and one dwelling-house in Harrisburg. He has


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acquired all his property by his own industry, and deserves much credit for it. He and Mrs. Stone are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he is a liberal contributor, as well as to all other worthy and laudable enterprises.


Thomas B. Sparks, general merchant, Harris- burg, Ark. Thomas B. Sparks, the senior member of the well-known and thoroughly established firm of T. B. Sparks & Co., is a native of Middle Ten- nessee, where his birth occurred February 27, 1840. His father, Thomas Sparks, was a farmer and trader by occupation, and was married in Virginia, to Miss Mary Booth, He moved to Arkansas in 1859, and died near Jonesboro about 1878. Both he and wife were members of the church, he of the Methodist Episcopal, and she of the Baptist Church. Their children, ten in number, are as follows: Mrs. Sarah A. Stroud (residing near Jonesboro), Mary E. (widow of H. Parr, residing at Jonesboro), T. B., A. W. (a farmer, residing at Harrisburg, Ark.), W. M. (a traveling salesman for a wholesale clothing house, at Cincinnati), G. N. (merchant at Wynne, Ark. ); the rest of the chil- dren are deceased. Thomas B. Sparks began life for himself by entering the army, enlisting Febru- ary 17, 1862, in Company A, Twenty third Arkansas, with J. D. Hillis, as captain. He took part in the disastrous battles of Iuka and Corinth, and was captured at Port Hudson, paroled and returned home. In the autumn of the same year he was exchanged, after which he entered the service in the same company and regiment, but cavalry. On the re-organization. his elder brothers, James E. and T. B., were elected captain and lieutenant, re- spectively, of Company A, which position they each held until the close of the war. After enter- ing the cavalry, the subject of this sketch was in the White River campaign, but surrendered at Wittsburg, in July, 1865. After the termination of hostilities, he returned home, and engaged in tilling the soil for one year, after which he entered the employ of his brother, James E. Sparks, as clerk. In the year 1868 his marriage to Miss El- vira Harris was consummated. She is the daugh- ter of Capt. Benjamin and Martha (Thrower) Harris, who were among the earliest settlers of


this county, and were the founders of the town of Harrisburg, which was named in their honor. Mr. Harris was a successful agriculturist, and figured prominently in the affairs of his county and State, holding the offices of representative, judge, and was also senator of the Twenty-ninth District of Poinsett, Jackson and Mississippi Counties. He was a Democrat in politics, and was a prominent Mason. Mr. Sparks continued to work as a sales- man until 1873, when he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Poinsett County, and was twice re- elected. He was defeated in 1878, and subse- quently returned to mercantile work, which he continued until 1880, when he was elected sheriff and collector. He was twice re-elected, thus plainly showing his efficiency as a public man, and served in that office until 1886, since which time he has given his undivided attention to merchandising. He and Mrs. Sparks are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are much respected by all who know them. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. (being High Priest of the Chapter) and of the K. of H. He is a Democrat, and is active in his support of all schools, churches and public enter- prises generally. In January, 1887, the present firm of Sparks & Co. was formed. the individual members being T. B. Sparks and J. L. Smith. They carry a stock of goods valued at from $6,000 to $8,000, handle cotton and grain, and are doing the largest business of any firm in town.


A. S. Thorn & Co., general merchants, of Marked Tree, Ark. A. S. Thorn is an example of the suc- cess attending hard work and honest dealing, and his trade is solidly established and reaches over the surrounding country. They carry an excellent and select stock of general goods, and the building in which they do business is their own, and they also own a good frame hotel. Their store was es- tablished in 1886. and, as stated above, they are doing a prosperous business. A. S. Thorn was born in York District, of South Carolina, in 1834. and is the third of a family of ten children born to Jesse and Frances (Miller) Thorn, who were born in South Carolina and North Carolina. respectively. The father was a planter, and in 1838 removed to the " Blue Grass State." and from there to Poin


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sett County, in 1848, but entered land in Craig- head County, and in 1874 moved to Jonesboro. where he lived a retired life until his death, in 1875. He took considerable interest in local poli- tics, and, although originally a Whig, he afterward became a Republican. His wife's death preceded his by one year, she having borne him the follow- ing children: William Jasper, who in 1861 enlisted from Crittenden County, in Capt. Barton's regi- ment of cavalry, and while trying to capture a vessel, in 1862, was shot, dying a short time af- terward, in the month of April; John Newton, an- other son, resides in Craighead County, and is en- gaged in farming; A. S., our subject; Mary, who died young; D. H., who is married and resides in Jonesboro; Harvey J., who was killed in 1871 by a falling tree; Zilla, who died in 1864; Martha (Mrs. Hubbs) residing in Craighead County; Sarah (Mrs. Abraham Brown), also of that county, and Caledonia (Mrs. Gwinn), also residing there. A. S. Thorn received no educational advantages in his youth, but educated himself after reaching manhood. He began farming in Craighead Coun- ty, and was married there, in 1856, to Miss Ollie Owen, of Tennessee, but her death occurred the same year. He next wedded, in Poinsett County, Miss Nannie Bradsher, of Tennessee, their union taking place in 1859. She bore Mr. Thorn one child, Ida, and died in 1866. This daughter mar- ried a Mr. Hydrick, in 1882, and is living in Scott Township. In 1867 Mr. Thorn's third union was consummated, his wife being Miss Amanda J. Mar- dis, of Alabama, and their marriage has resulted in the birth of three children: Willie N., Ruth and Bessie Beatrice. In 1866 Mr. Thorn removed to Scott Township, and purchased a partially-im- proved farm of 1,350 acres, and put 250 acres under cultivation. He has since divided with his children, but still owns 150 acres there, all under cultivation. He remained on this farm until No- vember, 1884, when he moved to Little River Township, and the following year embarked in his present business, at which he is doing well. He had previously been engaged in the same enter- prise at Harrisburg, in 1872, the firm name being D. H. Thorn & Co., but at the end of eighteen




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